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Abstract:

A putter-type club head (20) having a main body (25) and a removable aft
member (30) is disclosed herein. The putter-type club head (20) has a
main body (25) that is preferably composed of an aluminum alloy. The
removable aft member (30) is preferably composed of stainless steel and
has a mallet shape.

Claims:

1. A putter-type club head comprising:a main body;a removable aft member
with a mallet shape; andmeans for removably attaching the main body to
the removable aft member.

2. The putter-type club head according to claim 1 further comprisinga
plurality of recesses on an external surface of the crown portion, each
of the plurality of recesses having a circular shape with a diameter
ranging from 1.62 inches to 1.70 inches;a plurality of circular inserts,
each of the plurality of circular inserts disposed within a corresponding
recess of the plurality of recesses.

3. The putter-type club head according to claim 1 wherein each of the
plurality of circular inserts is composed of a thermosetting polyurethane
material, and each of the plurality of circular inserts has a white
color.

4. The putter-type club head according to claim 1 wherein the removable
aft member ranges from 20 to 50 volume percent of the putter-type club
head and ranges from 60 to 80 weight percent of the putter-type club
head.

5. The putter-type club head according to claim 1 wherein the removable
aft member is composed of stainless steel.

6. The putter-type club head according to claim 1 wherein the main body is
composed of a material selected from the group consisting of aluminum,
aluminum alloy, magnesium, magnesium alloy, titanium and titanium alloy.

7. The putter-type club head according to claim 1 wherein the main body is
composed of a material having a density ranging from 0.90 g/cm3 to
6.0 g/cm.sup.3.

8. The putter-type club head according to claim 1 wherein the removable
aft member is composed of a material having a density ranging from 7.00
g/cm3 to 10.0 g/cm.sup.3.

9. A putter-type club head comprising:a main body composed of an aluminum
material having a density ranging from 2.0 g/cm3 to 3.0 g/cm3,
a body having a face portion, a crown portion, and a sole portion, the
crown portion extending rearward from the face portion, the sole portion
extending rearward from face portion, the crown portion having an
alignment means; anda removable aft member attached to the main body, the
removable aft member having a mallet shape, the removable aft member
composed of a material having a density ranging from 6.0 g/cm3 to
20.0 g/cm.sup.3.

[0004]The present invention relates to a putter-type club head. More
specifically, the present invention relates to a putter-type club head
having a removable aft member.

[0005]2. Description of the Related Art

[0006]The golf industry has been inventing putters that make the game of
golf easier for the high handicap player. One such putter is disclosed in
U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,798 to David Pelz. The Pelz patent discloses a putter
with an alignment means to assist a golfer in aiming a golf ball toward a
hole during putting. The Pelz patent discloses using two or three golf
ball shaped indicators as the alignment means. The golf ball shaped
indicators may be circles, hemispheres, or complete spheres. The Pelz
patent discloses positioning the indicators along a line extending
rearward from the center of percussion.

[0007]Another patent that discloses an alignment means is U.S. Pat. No.
4,659,083 to Szczepanski. The Szczepanski patent discloses a group of
lines that converge toward the center of the face of the putter.

[0008]Yet another patent that discloses an alignment means is Great
Britain Patent Application Number 4,659,083 to Lilley. The Lilley patent
also discloses a group of lines that converge toward the center of the
face of a putter.

[0009]Another example is Schmidt et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,470,068, for a
Golf Putter With Dished Bottom Surfaces which discloses a putter composed
of a single cast material and having a hollow interior.

[0010]Another example is Uebelhor, U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,484, which was
filed on Mar. 20, 1998 for a Golf Putter Head. Uebelhor discloses a
putter head with a U-shaped body and a block within the middle. The block
has a lower specific gravity than the U-shaped body.

[0011]Yet another example is Rose et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,412
originally filed in January of 1996 for a Golf Club, Particularly A
Putter. The Rose patent discloses a center portion composed of a light
metal material and the heel and toe portions composed of heavier metals.
The metals are forged or cast to create the putter head.

[0012]Another example is Fernandez, U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,616 for a Golf
Club, which was originally filed in 1984, discloses a lightweight
composite material molded to a hard, high density material for
distribution of mass. Fernandez discloses a composite shell with a high
density insert composed of tungsten or some other high density material.

[0013]Although these inventions have provided new and improved putters for
making the game of golf more enjoyable for high handicap players, the
prior art has not optimized a putter by making it more forgiving and
assisting in alignment.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014]One aspect of the present invention is a putter-type club head
having a main body and a removable aft member with a mallet shape. The
main body has a face portion, a crown portion, and a sole portion. The
removable aft member is attached to the main body with fasteners. The
removable aft member preferably has a central mass portion, a heel arc
member extending outward from the central mass portion and a toe arc
member extending outward from the central mass member.

[0015]Having briefly described the present invention, the above and
further objects, features and advantages thereof will be recognized by
those skilled in the pertinent art from the following detailed
description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is a top perspective of a preferred embodiment of a
putter-type club head of the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 2 is a top perspective of a preferred embodiment of a
putter-type club head of the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective of a preferred embodiment of a
putter-type club head of the present invention.

[0019]FIG. 4 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of a putter-type
club head of the present invention.

[0020]FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of a putter-type
club of the present invention.

[0021]FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of a putter-type
club of the present invention

[0022]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a
putter-type club of the present invention.

[0023]FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a
putter-type club of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024]As shown in FIGS. 1-8, a putter-type club head of the present
invention is generally designated 20. A golf club utilizing the
putter-type club head 20 is generally designated 10. The club head 20
preferably includes a main body 25 and a removable aft-member 30. In a
preferred embodiment, the main body 25 is composed of a material having a
density ranging from 0.90 g/cm3 to 6.0 g/cm3. A preferred metal
for the main body 25 is an aluminum alloy. Alternative materials for the
main body 25 include aluminum, titanium, titanium alloys, magnesium,
magnesium alloys, and the like. The body 25 is preferably formed as a
single cast structure using known investment casting techniques. However,
those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize that alternative
forming techniques such as milling, welding forged or formed pieces, and
the like may be utilized without departing from the scope and spirit of
the present invention.

[0025]The main body 25 preferably weighs from 70 grams to 300 grams, more
preferably from 100 grams to 200 grams, even more preferably from 120
grams to 150 grams and most preferably 130 grams.

[0026]The removable aft-member 30 is preferably composed of a material
that has a density greater than the density of the material of the main
body 25. In a preferred embodiment, the removable aft-member 30 is
composed of a material having a density ranging from 6.0 g/cm3 to
20.0 g/cm3, and more preferably from 7.0 g/cm3 to 10.0
g/cm3. In a preferred embodiment, the removable aft-member 30 is
composed of stainless steel. In alternative embodiments, the removable
aft-member 30 is composed of zinc, brass, copper, gold, silver, tungsten,
tungsten-based alloys, iron-based alloys, and copper-based alloys.

[0027]The removable aft-member 30 preferably weighs from 80 grams to 300
grams, more preferably from 150 grams to 250 grams, and most preferably
240 grams. There is preferably a 2-to-1 mass ratio between the removable
aft-member 30 and the main body 25.

[0028]The putter-type club head 20 preferably has a mass ranging from 250
grams to 500 grams, more preferably from 300 grams to 400 grams, and most
preferably 340 grams.

[0029]In a preferred embodiment, the main body 25 has a face portion 40, a
crown portion and a sole portion. The face portion 24, the crown portion
26, the sole portion 28, the column portion 30 and the peripheral mass
belt 23 define a central aperture 32 that extends through the body 22.

[0030]The putter-type club head 20 has a width W' that extends from a heel
end to a toe end that preferably ranges from 3.0 inches to 6.0 inches,
more preferably from 4.5 inches to 5.5 inches, and most preferably 5.22
inches.

[0031]In a preferred embodiment, a crown portion has an alignment means
such as circular inserts. Each of the circular inserts are preferably
composed of a thermosetting polyurethane material such as described in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,273,831, entitled Golf Club Head with A Polymer Insert,
assigned to Callaway Golf (the assignee of the Present Application),
which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Alternatively,
each of the circular inserts may be composed of a thermoplastic
polyurethane. Each of the circular inserts is preferably colored white,
through painting or doping of the polyurethane with coloring agents, and
each circular insert 40a-c preferably has a texture of a golf ball cover.
Each of the circular inserts preferably has a diameter ranging from 1.62
inches to 1.70 inches, and most preferably 1.68 inches.

[0032]Alternative alignment means are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
4,688,798, entitled Golf Club And Head Including Alignment Indicators,
assigned to the Callaway Golf (the assignee of the Present Application),
which pertinent parts are hereby incorporated by reference. As disclosed
in U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,798, the alignment means assists a golfer in
properly aiming a golf ball toward a hole when putting. Alternative
alignment means, including a large white strip may be utilized in the
present invention.

[0033]The face portion 40 preferably has a thickness ranging from 0.10
inch to 0.50 inch, more preferably 0.20 inch to 0.35 inch. Preferably, an
external surface of the face preferably has a face recess, not shown,
therein with a face insert disposed therein such as disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No. 6,238,302, entitled A Golf Club Head With An Insert Having
Integral Tabs, assigned to Callaway Golf (the assignee of the Present
Application), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,238,302, the face insert is preferably
composed of a thermosetting polyurethane material and is preferably
colored white.

[0034]The putter-type club head 20 preferably has a length, L, from the
face portion 40 to the rearward most end of the removable aft member 30,
preferably ranging from 3.0 inches to 6.0 inches, more preferably from
4.5 inches to 5.5 inches, and most preferably 5.07 inches. In one
alternative embodiment, the putter-type club head 20 has a length, L,
that is equal to the width, W'.

[0035]The puffer-type club head 20 preferably has a moment of inertia
about the Izz axis through the center of gravity ranging from 3750
g-cm2 to 4200 g-cm2, and more preferably 3950 g-cm2 to
4100 g-cm2. The Izz axis extends from the sole to the crown.

[0036]The removable aft member 30 allows for the mass of the club head 20
to be extended outward from the center of gravity to increase the moment
of inertia without adding more mass to the club head 20.

[0037]The removable aft member 30 allows for interchangeability between
the main body 25 and the removable aft member 30. Preferably, fasteners
45 are inserted through apertures in both the main body 25 and the
removable aft member 30 to secure each other together. A urethane
vibration layer 50 is placed between the main body 25 and the removable
aft member 30 to pr event unwanted vibrations and to eliminate the need
for bonding agents. Several removable aft members 30 may have a ball
scoop for picking up a golf ball 21 without the need to bend down.

[0038]From the foregoing it is believed that those skilled in the
pertinent art will recognize the meritorious advancement of this
invention and will readily understand that while the present invention
has been described in association with a preferred embodiment thereof,
and other embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, numerous
changes, modifications and substitutions of equivalents may be made
therein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention
which is intended to be unlimited by the foregoing except as may appear
in the following appended claims. Therefore, the embodiments of the
invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are
defined in the following appended claims.